Spring sash balance



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,423

R. LANZILLOTTAI SPRING SASH BALANCE Filed April 22. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tia .6.

WU 111W" I N VEN TOR.

27 I )4 TTORNEYJJ Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

RUDOLPH LANZILLOTTA, 0F LYNCH, KENTUCKY.

SPRING SASH BALANCE.

Application filed April 22, 1927. Serial No. 185,892.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in sash balances and has more particular reference to spring sash balances of the rack and pinion type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved spring sash balance of the above kind which is simple and durable in construction and eflicient in operation.

It is well known that spring sash balances of the above kind operate most efliciently when the pinion is mounted for movement toward and away from the rack and resilient or yieldable means is -provided for projecting the pinion into operative engagement with the rack.

It is accordingly a further object of the present invention to provide an improved form of pinion for sash balances of the above kind, and improved means for mounting the same for movement toward and away from the rack. I f

A. further object isto provide improved means for resiliently or yieldingly projecting the pinion into engagement with the rack and for preventing accidental turning of the pinion to retain the sash in any desired adj usted position. I

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the side of a window frame and the adjacent side rails of vertically sliding sashes associated therewith, showing a sash balance constructed in accordance with the present invention asso ciated with the window frame and each sash;

Figure 2 isv a fragmentary elevation-Lil view showing the rack of the sash balance attached to the Window frame;

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary elevational view looking at the side rail of one of the sashes shown in Figure 1, equipped with a spring operated pinion in accordance with the present invention; v

Figure 4: is a view of the device shown in Figure 3 with the pinion casing and rack guide in side elevation and the sash in vertical section;

Figure 5 isa view similartoFigure 4 with the removable side wall of the pinion'casing removed;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially upon line 6-6 of Fig urel; V, 1

Figure 7 is an enlarged f vertical section taken substantially upon line 7-7 of Fig ure 4:; r

Figure 8 is afplan view ofthe rotatable spring operated pinion ring;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the side members of the pinionyand Figure 10 is a perspective viewof the removable side wall of the pinion casing.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates a conventional window frame in which are mounted theusual vertically slid ing upper and lower sashes 6 and 7 respectively.. -As shown in Figure 1 sash balances constructed in accordance with the present invention are adapted to be associated with each sash, but as the construction of both balances is the same, description of one will suflice for both, i

As shown in the several views; each sash is formed with a central longitudinal groove 8 in each side rail thereof into which projects the teeth of a rack bar 9 havingits base suitably secured as by screws 10, and preferably countersunk in the adjacentinner face of the frame 5. i

Fitted within a suitable mortise of the mentioned side rail of the sash 7 is a pinion casing 11, the front of which is of channelform and provided with end extensions to form a rack guide 12, into which the teeth of the rack bar 9 project as shown in Figure 1. The rack guide 12 is preferably provided with lateral flanges 13 counter-sunk in the edgeof the sash rail and having screws 14 passing therethrough for securing the pinion casing in place.

As shown more clearly in Figures 7 and 10, the pinion casing ll is provided with side walls formedwith pairs of opposed internal horizontal ribs 15 slidably engaged in similar grooves 16 provided inthe outer sides of a pair of disks 17 forming the side members of the pinion, which pinion further includes a pinion ring 18 rotatable upon the peripheral edges of the disks 17 and retained in place by the provision of an internal annular rib 19 on the pinion ring 18 projecting between the margins of the disks 17 as shown in Figure 7. The pinion casing 11 is provided with a permanent side wall rigid with which is a central transverse pin 20 disposed midway between the pairs of ribs 15 and ex tending through horizontally elongated slots 21 of the disks 17 whereby the pinion is e1- iectively supported for sliding movement horizontally toward and away from the rack bar 9. F or permitting assembly, the other side wall 22 of the pinion casing is removable, being secured in place by means of a stud screw 23 passing therethrough and threaded into an axial socket in the adjacent end'ot the pin 20. Y

The'pinionr-ing 18 is allowed engagement with the teeth of rack bar 9 by providing the guide 12 with a slot as at 24L through which the adjacent side of the pinion ring 18 is projected. Asshown, the pinion ring 18 is formed with a smooth periphery and provided with a circular series of uniformly spaced sprocket openings or slots 25 for engagement with the teeth of rack bar 9, and fixed "to the back of the casing 11 is a. suitable spring 26, preferably of the leaf type as shown, which bears upon the periphery of the pinion ring 18 and projects the pinion toward and into meshing engagement with the teeth of rack bar 9. By disposing the spring26 in engagement with the periphery of pinion ring '18, the latter is frictionally restrained from rotation whereby the sash.

will be maintained in adjusted open or closed position, against accidental displacement, as will be apparent. As shown, the ends of the spring 26 are anchored to the wall of casing 11 and the intermediate portion of the spring 26 is shaped to conform to and frictionallyengage the periphery of the pinion ring 18.

As is usual in the art, a coiled spring 27 is provided to actuate the pinion ring 18, the inner end of the spring being anchored to the pin 20 and the outer end thereof be ing suitably fastened to the inner face of the pinion ring 18 as shown in Figure 6.

It will be understood that the parts are disposed in use so that the spring'27 is placed under additional tension when the sash with which it cooperates is lowered. Thus, in the case out the lower sash 7, the spring 27 will be disposed as shown in Figure 6 to be wound when said sash 7 is lowered to closed position, while with the upper sash 6,'the casing 11 is disposed so that the spring'will be placed under tension or wound when said upper sash 6 is lowered to open position. 7

When, for any reason, the parts tend to jamb or stick by" reason of warping of the window frame or sash, the pinion may readily yield with relation to the rack bar by reason of its mounting described above, thereby insuring proper working of the device under actual conditions met with in practice.

In operation, movement of the sash will cause rotat on of the associated plnion ring '18 about the supporting disks 17 thereof,

such rotation being causedby the engagement of the teeth of the fixed rack bar 9 in the openings 25 oi said pinion ring. When the sash is lifted, the spring 27 will assist in such movement so as to insure ease of adjustment of the sash to the desired position, the spring 26 frictionally retaining" the pinion ring 18 against accidental rotation when the sash is brought to rest.

It will be seen that the-construction is extremely simple and durable, may be manufactured expeditiously and cheaply, and may be readily assembled. or taken apart and placed into practical use without the requirement of special skill or tools.

Minor changes may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the in vention as claimed.

What I claim as new is I 1. In a spring sash balance, a casing havin a front slot, a pinion embodying a pair ot disks and a ring rotatably mounted upon the peripheral edges of said disks, said pinion projecting tln-oughsaid slot for engage ment with a rack bar, means to prevent rotation of said disks, and a spring adapted to be tensioned by said ring when the latter is turned in one direction,said rotation preventing means groove in the outer faces of the disks and guide ribs on the inner surfaces of the sides of said casing engaged in said grooves.

2. In a spring sash balance, a casing having a slot, a spring actuated pinion element rotatable and horizontally slidable in the casing, yieldable means to frictionally resist turning'o'l the pinion element and horizontally urge it to project through said slot, a pair of disks rotatably supporting said pinion element and interfitting means on the sides of the casing and the disks to permit the horizontal movement of the pinion ele ment and disks and restrain the disks from rotation. I

3. In a spring sash balance, a casing having a slot, a spring actuated pinion element rotatable and horizontally slidable in the casing, yieldable'nieans to i'rictionally resist turning of the pinion element and horizontally urge it to project through said slot, a pair of disks rotatably supporting said pinion element and interfitting means on the sides of the casing and the disks to permit the horizontal movement of the pinion element and disks and restrain the disks from rotation, said disks having horizontal elongated slots, and a transverse pin earned by the casing and extending through said horizontal slots, the actuating spring of the pinion element being anchored to said pin.

embodying a horizontalrotatable and horizontally slidable in the casing, yieldable means to frictionally resist turning of the pinion element and horizontally urge it to project through said slot, a pair oft disks rotatably supporting said pinion element and interfitting means on the sides of the casing and the disks to permit the horizontal movement of the pinion ele ment and disks and restrain the disks from 1 rotation, said disks having horizontal elongated slots, a transverse pin carried by the casing and extending through said horizontal slots, the actuating spring of the pinion element being anchored to said pin said casing having a removable side, and means detachably engaged With said pin to retain said removable side of the casing in place.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

RUDOLPH LANZILLOTTA. 

